What We’re Thinking About

The battle between the two social media giants ensues with the fight for new followers, features, and filters. Both platforms roughly operate in the same way, but have key characteristics which set them apart and have some users running to Instagram and others to Snapchat. Which one will emerge the ultimate platform?

We took a look at four features that both platforms have and compared the main differences and similarities to find out which one comes out on top.

Stories

On Snapchat stories are now within your own personal feed. Kinda weird, we know. Snapchat’s dramatic redesign places stories within your feed instead of the promotional page. Not only are they in your personal feed now, but the company has also separated celebrities and influencers’ stories from your friends and family.

On Instagram stories are located at the top of your personal feed and the discovery page. The personal feed only features the people you follow while the discovery page displays popular content from celebrities, brands, or social media influencers. For years, Snapchat was the only platform for stories, but Instagram might be giving them a run for their money.

Messaging

On Snapchat messaging can be quite personal as most users’ accounts are only viewable for friends and family. In that sense, messaging is direct and disappears moments after, which adds another element of secrecy and therefore privacy. Snapchat also allows group chats for fun messaging within your small group of friends, customizable stories (maybe not everyone should see your Saturday night story) quick disappearing chats. Although, downside being, who always remembers every snapchat they send?

On Instagram messaging is largely based off the pictures you post which differs from Snapchat’s solely direct messaging and stories that disappear within 24 hours. Insta creates a community of users who can connect by direct messaging. Whether its commenting directly on someone’s photo of their glorious avocado toast or just saying hi, the messaging feature is pretty straight forward and looks like it too.

Filters

On Snapchat face filters have reigned supreme for as long as anyone can remember. Who doesn’t love the puppy filter or floral crown filter that makes you look like a goddess? The OG of filters constantly creates new filters to add to your selfie obsession. Their face filters are always on point with satisfaction across the board.

Snapchat’s geofilters and stickers have always gone hand in hand with the social media giant. From playful geofilters that let everyone know you went to that trendy coffee spot on the corner to custom filters you make yourself, the platform allows for fun location markers.

Augmented reality is one of the coolest tech advances so who wouldn’t want to join in? Unlike Insta, Snapchat incorporates a bit of AR into its user experience that a completely different element of fun.

Stickers have always been a part of Snapchat’s stories and they can also be incorporated into chats. While stickers originated here, there a few updates with new options to try which can get boring. But, with the new redesign users can now change the font treatment to any of their text which are stickers within themselves.

On Instagram facial filters haven’t been as strong as its rival. Compared to Snapchat, Insta is just a youngin’ when it comes to filters and it shows. The filters are not as developed, perhaps not as sophisticated looking, and as a user myself I rarely see anyone use them.

But, looking at Insta’s photo filters, users love them! Not only does this apply to their stories, but to actual photo posts. Users have a variety of preset filters to choose from which can make an ordinary photo extraordinary. Stories also incorporate a few preset filters, but have some of the best stickers compared to Snapchat. Constant updates keep users entertained and satisfied.

Overall Platform

On Snapchat personal messaging is easy and fun with an added level of privacy due to a 24 hr limit on all communication. The platform incorporates fun stickers, facial filters, geofilters, and stories. A user can also follow their favorite celebrities and stay updated with news stories from major publications/companies like The Wall Street Journal or The Daily Mail.

On Instagram the photo sharing platform has amassed 800 million users who have created a massive online community. Users can post their own personal photos, share moments in their life, and stay connected by following friends and family. It’s newest update came with stories to encourage users to post photos in a more casual and frequent way than the usual kind of posting. Add filters and stickers to have an even more interactive experience.

The two apps, so similar yet so different, continue to compete for users’ phone screens. Seemingly neck and neck in the battle for your iPhone screen, which one wins you over? Comment below who you think is the winner or tweet us @FLIRTComm!

Every day, we’re surrounded by brilliant design: from industrial, to graphic, to architectural, to the personal. We all make decisions based on design impressions every day, from simple subway signage that makes order out of the chaos of the rush hour to the elegance of the Apple watch interface. Apple has elevated design for decades, and in 2015 anointed Jony Ive, the brilliant industrial designer and user interface guru, the title of Chief Design Officer. (As of December 7, 2017 Ive resumed direct management of the company’s product design team).

So we wonder out loud, Why don’t we have more chief design officers?

As creative director at FLIRT, it’s often easy to appreciate design aesthetics. It’s my job. But for our clients, that job is often not on the front burner. We’re not talking about the simplistic execution of brand standards, we’re talking about the visualization of complex ideas and human emotions . . . design with a purpose.

Our collective job at FLIRT is to educate and empower our clients to understand the value of good solid design and know it when they see it. Our charge is to share the design tenets with our clients in order to enable them to make smart design decisions among peers and coworkers, and also with us as strategic partners.

Hillman Curits put it best:“The more involved and respected a client feels, the more secure they’ll feel with your work and the less they will feel the need to watch your every move, thus giving you more freedom as a designer.”

In many cases an average design can transform into a great design with just a little more discovery, one more question or just one more revision. It is often said that if you are digging a hole in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn’t going to help. At FLIRT we roam, we keep moving and keep discovering, and we dig many holes until we strike gold.

Great Design isn’t expensive but it is expressive.

Great Design is often simple, clean and at times seems so obvious.

Great Design can and should have limits! Restrictions become a built in editor.

Great Design lives by one law, the law of Simplicity.

Don’t let technology and speed rush the process. These are just tools. Use them wisely.

Great Design is crafted by all teams digging everywhere at once, searching for inspiring treasure.

Great Design borrows graphic artifacts from the past. Nothing more inspiring than the Disney logo!

Great Design optimizes the viewer’s perception and the viewer’s experience.

Great Design is iconic and unifies and breaks down our differences.

Great Design elevates our aesthetics and the entire environment, creating an atmosphere everyone wants to be part of.

Great Design is not an opinion or guess, it’s a push and a shove. It’s a constant check and balance of insight and instincts.

Great Design inspires and adds dimension and meaning to our existence.

Great Design is always worth the effort!

Every client, product and person has something to say. Design is a powerful way to express it to others. Smart, consistent and effective design ensures that these messages are put forth with intention and purpose. Design extends into each and every detail, and each and every detail can indeed be designed.

The digital and real worlds are coming closer and closer to colliding each day. This has incredible implications for anyone trying to communicate and engage with an audience. As tech developments continue in the AR field, content creators will be able to merge the digital and real worlds in more intuitive ways. This will drastically alter what we can do as we create communications, promotional experiences, events, websites and apps. Now we have to tools to guide people through spaces, show them products in their homes and get them to interact with brands face to face. The best part is that we don’t need to convince them to get expensive devices or learn new technologies. All we need is to repurpose a device they are already using: their smartphones.

Major changes are coming to AR development with Apple releasing ARKit (a set of tools that enable developers to create augmented reality apps.) Apple is already developing AR as a feature for their maps. Imagine what you could do to guide people through a space.

Google has also been exploring AR with Project Tango. This project seeks to develop mobile devices that can map indoor spaces and to know the location of the device within that space using sensors. This project aims to integrate your body and movements, as well as, your surroundings into its simulation; changing the way we interact with physical spaces.

As Apple and Google develop their technologies, brands have also been exploring the use of augmented reality to engage their audience. Here are some examples:

IKEA

Ikea is making the most out of this technology allowing people to virtually place objects into their spaces before buying them. Customers will be able to take a photos of their room and use the app to place a photo-realistic render of an Ikea product into their space. They have partnered with Apple in the use of their new AR tech and it is said to be so precise it will show how the product’s size and lighting will look.

L’Oréal has several apps that let people try makeup on their selfies before trying the products. They are also working on some in-store AR applications, installing AR at beauty counters in stores. This gives them data on the kinds of products people are buying as well as how the interactions affect their purchase decisions.

Cedar Point is taking a more playful approach and has included AR in their app creating The Battle for Cedar Point experience. People visiting the park can join different roller coaster-themed clans and compete by scanning the park with their smartphones. The app transforms the physical park into a video game and changes the way attendees interact with the space.

In the past, we let you in on the keys to success in the life of an event coordinator. But now, the interns put a spotlight on what it takes to be on-site as a Production Assistant. At first, the role as a PA on-site seems broad and daunting. You have assisted the producers and coordinators in the office for the weeks and months prior; ordering props, making phone calls and organizing spreadsheets. But now it is time to see everyone’s hard work come to life on-site.

Before going on-site the office gave me the following advice:

1.“Bring layers, the convention centers are always cold”: Doesn’t matter if you are going to San Antonio where the weather is 120 degrees, or Toronto where it is barely above freezing, pack your biggest cardigan and softest scarf ALWAYS. Just keep in mind that the PA is there to run errands and track down office supplies and props, so always dress in layers for your constant trips in and out of air conditioned hotels and convention centers to the outdoors.

2.”Wear comfy shoes, do not wear your new flats”: This is not a drill!! On-site you will be working 12 hours days, and logging at least 20,000 steps on your fitbit. Pack your black nikes and wear them with pride.

Now that I have been on a couple events myself, here are some of the things I have learned:

1.Take advice from literally everyone. Every member of the crew has been in your shoes before and been new to the world of production. Learn the important lingo from them, along with their organization and backstage tips.

2. Always have a smile on your face and be willing to talk to everyone from the janitor to the manager, because you never know what they can do to make your time on-site easier

3. Be creative. Get ready to think outside the box in order to problem solve. Shipments arrive late, supplies runs out after store hours, clients make last minute changes, and you need to be ready to think on your feet and be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

4. Offer everyone on-site something to drink or eat before you do, because you’re there to make everyone’s job easier. And the crew will have an easier time doing their job if they’re fed.

5. If you’re not busy running around, take a chance to listen to the cues on headset so that you can learn about other aspects of the event, like graphics or audio.

6. Everyone hugs. EVERYONE.

7. Get used to waking up early and getting ready FAST, 5 am crew calls are not a joke

8. Bring a flashlight, or make sure to pack one in the PA kit. While producers and coordinators are discussing cues over headset, you will most likely be leading alent or executives in the dark backstage, so keep a flashlight handy so that 1. No one gets hurt, and 2. No one trips over one of the important wires that keep the event running.

9. Always take the wrapper off the water bottles, and always have water bottles stocked backstage

10. Last but not least…. Being on headset and being on-site is contagious. Once you work on one event, you’ll most likely want to work on more!

We’re living in an age of disruptive business. First, Uber changed the way drive, then AirBnB changed the way we travel. Now, these six start-ups are breaking through in their respective industries with innovative solutions to our everyday needs. From digital pill bottles to self-brewing beer machines, these futuristic inventions are bridging the gap between science fiction and reality.

Described as a “fit bit for cars” Dash is a tech device that monitors user driving and vehicle health needs. It’s designed to help save money, improve safety, and save time. The product combines a mobile app with a hardware device to provide real-time feedback on driving, vehicle diagnostics, navigation, and trip logs. Since its trial in 2015, over 250,000 drivers have been using dash in the U.S.

If you enjoy eating out at the price of packing a lunch, then MealPal is the app for you. This startup service allows members to order lunches from local restaurants, skip the in-store line, and pay under $5 for each meal. Cross your fingers that this service is provided in your city because you can save up to $600 a year on lunches with a subscription.

Praised by Richard Branson as the “most disruptive startup in the beer space” MiniBrew is the world’s first all-in-one beer brewing machine. Consisting of a digital appliance, a fresh ingredient pack, and a mobile app, MiniBrew allows consumers to design and create a variety of beers from virtually. Whether you’re looking to replicate a flavor you tried once in a bar or discover a new beer that matches your mood, this product is the perfect way to express your inner-hipster.

Designed to reduce food waste and keep consumers informed, Bump Mark adheres to food packaging and alerts consumers when food is going bad. Once the small sticker product is attached to any container, it reacts to the conditions inside. Consumers will know their food has gone bad if the Bumb Mark begins developing a bumpy texture.

Babylon Health is eliminating all of the time-wasters and hassles of the healthcare industry. With their mobile app, users can book face-to-face consultations, ask medical questions, conduct health tests, check clinical records, and even monitor health indicators such as pulse and blood pressure. While other healthcare apps simply match users with doctors over the phone, the Babylon Health app utilizes artificial intelligence to make predictions, prevent illness, and provide solutions before symptoms progress.

Here with the latest in smart technology, AdhereTech has designed a pill bottle that alerts patients to take their medication. AdhereTech recognized the extremely common problem that patients often forget to take their medicine, so they created this simple solution. Although the product itself is small, it’s saving the industry billions of dollars in follow-up care and intervention.